Cabinet of Curiosities (1×03) The Autopsy Review

For our review of the last episode of Cabinet of Curiosities, click here.

The longest episode of the season so far, this episode of Cabinet of Curiosities once again offers something different as the season continues to improve. Not only sci-fi, The Autopsy views it through the lens of an engaging mystery that is sure to have viewers on the edge of their seats. Sure, it couldn’t have gone about it a little faster here but is nonetheless carried by the strong dynamic of F. Murray Abraham and Glynn Turman as this episode’s headliners. Where it ultimately lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in execution. Once again, something just isn’t quite right and it’s all about figuring out how it started and what to do about it. All things considered, there was certainly more going on than it seemed on the surface with the answers being unveiled after of course an autopsy. While it would have definitely would have been interesting to dive into that mystery a little deeper than it did here despite the longer running time, the nature of the series limits how far it could really go. That being said, it certainly makes the most out of its premise unlike the previous two episodes.

The Autopsy follows a medical examiner named Dr. Winters (Abraham) who is tasked by his sheriff fried Sheriff Craven (Turman) to determine the cause of death on a group of mine workers killed in a suspicious collapse but that was the only the end of a much wilder story that began with a growing number of missing people. Leading to the mine collapse, the answers appeared to lie in the autopsy of the presumed suspect for everything who was found dead in the collapse. Winters and Craven are old friends with a fair share of life experience that has shaped their repour. They were a blast to watch together as Craven recounted the case up to that point which helped set the stage nicely for the autopsy or autopsies where all those pieces started to come together and questions were answered, leaving Winters to face off against whoever or whatever was at the root of it all. Though the mood became understandably tense as he found himself in danger, he still had a few tricks left up his sleeve.

In the end, the best part of The Autopsy was the stellar performance from Abraham as Dr. Winters. He undeniably has the gravitas to portray a man with experience while still providing range and vulnerability as the characters gets put to the test here. His chemistry with Turman, in a limited role, was also a highlight but it would have been nice to see Turman play more of a part here.

The Autopsy continues the streak of giving viewers a little bit of everything which in this case works more often than not.

*still courtesy of Netflix*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.